Hyperemesis Gravidarum: Looking Beyond Pregnancy
Author(s): Urvashi Miglani, Poonam Laul, Nupur Khandelwal, Sanjeev Miglani
Hyperemesis gravidarum is defined variably as vomiting being sufficiently severe enough to produce weight loss, dehydration, ketosis, alkalosis from loss of hydrochloric acid and hypokalemia. It is not common for a patient affected with hyperemesis gravidarum to present with idiopathic acute pancreatitis in the same time period. This case pertains to a 22-year-old pregnant woman, admitted to our hospital with complaint of severe and frequent episodes of vomiting and severe epigastric pain at 14 weeks of gestation. After treatment with parenteral fluid and antiemetics, the patient’s condition failed to improve. Further investigations confirmed a diagnosis of idiopathic acute pancreatitis. Patient was managed conservatively. Early and rapid diagnosis and supportive treatment play a vital role in the management of such cases.